For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven... a time to weep, and a time to laugh...

Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4, ESV

I like the wisdom contained in Ecclesiastes. While some of it is admittedly too hard for me to understand, much of it is so plain that even someone as simple as me can figure it out. Take the verse above, for example. There is a time to laugh. It's true that there is also a time to weep, but it's the happy part I want to focus on today because I feel that the world could use some laughter about now.

I would like to share a true story that happened about 25 years ago when I was coaching a team of third and fourth grade girls. Now this is an activity that I highly recommend for everyone who likes to laugh, for the combination of little girls and basketball have great potential for bringing a smile to your face. In this particular game (I think it was the last one of the season), the smallest girl on the court got fouled. In order to protect her identity I shall call her Salem. Her real name was also Salem, so I think this is an exceptionally clever way to hide her true identity. Of course this could not be done if I revealed to you her last name (it was Poe), so I'll try to keep that part to myself from this point forward.

Anyway. getting back to the game. As I mentioned, it was near the end of the season and it was also close to the end of this particular game. Salem had been fouled and got to go to the free throw line to try and score a point or two. Since she had not yet scored a single point this year, I called a time out and made the suggestion that she try shooting the free throw underhand to give her a bit more power. Now, having coached hundreds of kids in basketball through the years I can honestly say that nobody likes to shoot their free throws underhanded. But to sweet, humble Salem's credit, she did and...

she made the shot! 25 years later I can tell you that I have no idea whether or not we won that game, or even how well the team finished that season. What I can tell you is that when Salem made that shot, the crowd went wild! I think even the opposing team and their fans cheered for her. In retrospect, we should have interrupted the game right then and there and had a small presentation, but that's beside the point.

So what is the point, you may be wondering? It's that in a simple children's game, for a moment or two, people experienced pure and unadulterated joy.

I think we all could use that, from time to time, don't you? I wonder if a simple moment in a simple game can bring so much joy, what will Heaven be like... I can't wait to find out, can you?

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:4, NKJV